Social Security Application for a Short-Term Disability Whether or not you should file for Social Security Disability after being injured in an automobile accident depends on whether you meet Social Security’s definition of disability and on how long you expect to be disabled, long or short term. How Social Security Defines Disability Social Security defines disability for adults as “the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment or impairments which can be expected to result in death, or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less...Read more